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Members of the 51���� Scripps College of Communication Dean’s Advisory Council (DAC) say their fall meeting in Chicago last month allowed them to see firsthand how the media industry is evolving at a rapid pace. It also gave them the opportunity to hear from fellow alumni who are leading the industry through that change which was eye-opening and made them even more proud to be a Bobcat.

“We met with a variety of Scripps grads who are emerging as topflight communications professionals. In each case, they told us what we all know, that the journalism and communications landscape is changing at blinding speed,” said Dean’s Advisory Council Member Andy Alexander, BSJ ’72. “For me, that underscored the importance of Scripps being nimble and aggressive in constantly altering our educational programs to make sure our graduates are competitive right out of the gate.”

The Dean's Advisory Council meets in person twice each year, once on location and once in Athens. The recent Chicago meeting was held Oct. 23–25. The 23-member group of mostly alumni is available to the dean for guidance and advice on curriculum matters as well as the direction of the industry.

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“Meeting people in their environments allows us to create opportunities for alumni to participate in the shaping of the future of the college that they may not be able to provide if we only met in Athens,” said Dean’s Advisory Council Member David Jeffries, BSC ’11. “Being on location also allows DAC members to see firsthand the results of students' professional paths and compare it to other experiences and help to provide valuable insight to what the college should be doing to prepare students for the workforce.”

Digital Producer Karli Bell, BSJ ’16, who is a member of the Scripps Young Alumni Council, spoke to the group about the Marquee Sports Network business model, its presence in Chicago and her role at the company. Marquee Sports Network is a regional sports network operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group and the Chicago Cubs.

“I spoke a lot about our diverse programming, growth towards the future, and our presence, specifically within the WNBA,” said Bell. “Scripps should absolutely continue to connect with their alumni in settings like this, specifically young alumni. A lot of us are in these new leadership or growth positions within the media industry and understanding what we're working on and how we see the industry changing can help either bolster or change current curriculum.”

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Advisory council members also heard from alumni on how technology is impacting public relations and healthcare communication and got a tour of the United Airlines Network Operations Center.

This was Jeffries’ first meeting as a member of the Scripps Dean’s Advisory Council, and it left quite an impact. After attending, he is more committed than ever to supporting Scripps current students and alumni.

“The experience really allowed us to hear about the direction the college is headed as well as the alumni's input on the current job environments,” said Jeffries. “What resonated with me most was the genuine care the DAC members and the guest alumni still have in creating a stronger experience for the current and future students. Alumni ranging from recent graduates to decades removed from college life all carried the same message – a strong education makes for a strong alumni base, which makes for a strong network in the workforce.”